The South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers’ Union (Saccawu) will embark on lunchtime pickets at Shoprite Checkers shops throughout the country from Tuesday.
Union chairperson Mike Tau told reporters in Johannesburg on Monday the decision stemmed from the company and the union failing to reach agreement over an across-the-board wage increase of R300 or 10% — whichever results in the higher sum of money.
The company had offered R265 and claimed only to be able to afford to meet the union demand for employees in Sandton and other upmarket trading areas, Saccawu said.
”This is a shocking attitude from a company that prides itself as the biggest retailer on the African continent,” said Tau.
The two parties met earlier this month at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration to discuss strike and picket rules but could not agree, he said.
No comment could immediately be obtained from Shoprite Checkers.
Should the pickets — scheduled to run until July 23 — fail to bring progress, national marches will take place on July 28, said Tau.
Saccawu said between 400 and 500 outlets of Shoprite Checkers, including the company’s subsidiaries, will be targeted in the pickets.
Tau said Saccawu was the majority union at the company with a membership of between 32 000 and 38 000, representing 65% of workers.
Saccawu president Amos Mathapo said the union had a plan to engage other southern African unions to protect workers against exploitation by South African retailers and had recently met with Mozambican counterparts. — Sapa